The Way of Love
Encyclopedia
"The Way Of Love" is a song written by Jacques (aka Jack) Dieval (music) and Al Stillman
(lyrics).
, singing it in the "Musik Ohne Grenzen" competition; Castel was backed by Fernand Terby's orchestra with Jacques Dieval providing piano accompaniment. The first evident recording of "J'ai le mal de toi" was made in 1964 by Colette Dereal
.
In June 1965 the English rendering entitled "The Way of Love" was issued in the UK as a single by Kathy Kirby
; lyricist Al Stillman had previously provided the lyrics for Kirby's English language hit version of "Malagueña
" entitled "You're the One". Recorded by Kirby with her regular collaborators: musical director Ivor Raymonde
and producer Peter Sullivan, "The Way of Love" failed to reach the UK Top 50 but became a regional hit in the United States reaching #88 nationally.
In 1966 a new French version, also by lyricist Michel Rivgauche, was recorded by Dalida
as "Parlez-Moi De Lui" ("Tell me about him"). This rendition slightly alters the original melody. This adaption was covered by Françoise Hardy
in 1969.
In 1970 Perry Como
recorded another english version of the song, It's Impossible
: the lyrics by Sid Wayne was a translation of Armando Manzareno's spanish version Somos Novios. Then in 1972 Elvis Presley
also released this version.
. Her version hit number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1972
. It was the second single released from the album Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
produced by Snuff Garrett
.
Roslyn Kind recorded an English version with completely different lyrics - also by Al Stillman - entitled 'Can I Stop the Rain?' on her 1968 album 'Give Me You'.
Shirley Bassey
featured "The Way of Love" on 1972's And I Love You So
. That same year Vikki Carr
included the song on her The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face album which was produced by Snuff Garrett.
The song "It's Impossible" is sometimes identified as a being an alternate translation of "The Way of Love" but officially the two songs are distinct - although it is claimed that Somos Novios is a plagiarism of the original version of the song, 'J'ai le mal de toi'.
Al Stillman
Al Stillman was an American lyricist.-Biography:Stillman was born in New York City. His name was originally Albert Silverman, but changed it to that of a well-known New York banking family. He was Jewish. He attended New York University. After graduation, he contributed to Franklin P...
(lyrics).
First versions
Originally written by Jack Diéval with French lyrics by Michel Rivgauche the song was introduced as 'J'ai le mal de toi'. It was written for the singer Frédérica in 1960, who took part that year in the national elimination rounds of France for the Eurovision Song Contest. This song was not selected, and it seems that it have not been recorded. Then, the song was performed on Belgium's BRT radio station by vocalist Lily CastelLily Castel
Lily Castel is a Belgian singer, best known for her participation with Jacques Raymond in the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest.- Early career :...
, singing it in the "Musik Ohne Grenzen" competition; Castel was backed by Fernand Terby's orchestra with Jacques Dieval providing piano accompaniment. The first evident recording of "J'ai le mal de toi" was made in 1964 by Colette Dereal
Colette Deréal
Colette Deréal, born Colette Denise de Glarélial, 22 September 1927 in Saint-Cyr-l'École, Seine-et-Oise , France and died 12 April 1988 in Monaco, is a French actress and singer.-Eurovision Song Contest 1961:...
.
In June 1965 the English rendering entitled "The Way of Love" was issued in the UK as a single by Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby
Kathy Kirby was an English singer who was reportedly the highest-paid female singer of her generation. She is best known for her cover version of Doris Day's "Secret Love" and for representing the United Kingdom in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, where she came in second place...
; lyricist Al Stillman had previously provided the lyrics for Kirby's English language hit version of "Malagueña
Malagueña
Originally the sixth movement of the Suite Andalucia by Ernesto Lecuona, who also provided it with Spanish lyrics, the song "Malagueña" has since become a popular, jazz, marching band, and drum corps standard and has been provided with lyrics in several languages.-Notable vocal performances:A...
" entitled "You're the One". Recorded by Kirby with her regular collaborators: musical director Ivor Raymonde
Ivor Raymonde
Ivor Raymonde was a British musician, songwriter, arranger and actor, best known for his distinctive rock-orchestral arrangements for Dusty Springfield and others in the 1960s.-Life and career:...
and producer Peter Sullivan, "The Way of Love" failed to reach the UK Top 50 but became a regional hit in the United States reaching #88 nationally.
In 1966 a new French version, also by lyricist Michel Rivgauche, was recorded by Dalida
Dalida
Dalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
as "Parlez-Moi De Lui" ("Tell me about him"). This rendition slightly alters the original melody. This adaption was covered by Françoise Hardy
Françoise Hardy
Françoise Madeleine Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music and style. She is married to the singer and movie actor Jacques Dutronc.-Biography:...
in 1969.
In 1970 Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
recorded another english version of the song, It's Impossible
It's Impossible
"It's Impossible" can refer to:*"It's Impossible ," an album by American singer Perry Como*"It's Impossible ," a song by Mexican composer Armando Manzanero...
: the lyrics by Sid Wayne was a translation of Armando Manzareno's spanish version Somos Novios. Then in 1972 Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
also released this version.
Cher version
"The Way Of Love" was also recorded by CherCher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
. Her version hit number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1972
1972 in music
-Events:*January 17 – Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Boulevard"*January 20 – The début of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at The Dome, Brighton, is halted by technical difficulties,...
. It was the second single released from the album Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves (album)
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves is the seventh studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on September 1971 by Kapp Records. For the realization of this album, Cher left her husband Sonny Bono to produce the album, and for the first time she collabored with Snuff Garrett and with Al Capps for...
produced by Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett
Snuff Garrett is a retired American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s. His nickname is a play on Garrett's Snuff, a brand of snuff....
.
Live performances
Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:- Do You Believe? TourDo You Believe? TourThe Do You Believe? Tour, sometimes also known as The Believe Tour, was Cher’s third solo concert tour. The tour which took place in 1999 and 2000, was used to promote her album Believe.-History:...
- The Farewell TourLiving Proof: The Farewell TourLiving Proof: The Farewell Tour is the seventh concert tour by American singer, Cher. The tour supported her twenty-fourth studio album, Living Proof and eleventh compilation album, The Very Best of Cher...
(sung on the first leg, the second leg, the third leg and the final two shows of the tour) - Cher at the ColosseumCher at the Colosseum'Cher at the Colosseum was a series of concerts by Cher at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the three years engagement, Cher received $180 million. Performing at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the first show occurred on May 6, 2008 and the last show was on February 5, 2011...
(removed during the third leg, and replaced with "Love HurtsLove Hurts"Love Hurts" is the name of a song, written and composed by Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by The Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is also well known from a 1975 international hit version by the rock band Nazareth and in the UK by a top 5 hit in 1975 by Jim Capaldi.The song was introduced...
")
Charts
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
2 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 5 |
Other versions
A Dutch language version of the song entitled "Je doet me pijn" - lyrics by Ernst van Altena - was recorded in 1965 by Conny Vandenbos.Roslyn Kind recorded an English version with completely different lyrics - also by Al Stillman - entitled 'Can I Stop the Rain?' on her 1968 album 'Give Me You'.
Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
featured "The Way of Love" on 1972's And I Love You So
And I Love You So (Shirley Bassey album)
And I Love You So is a 1972 album by Shirley Bassey.Released late in 1972 to positive reviews, this was Bassey's fourth album of the decade and was one of the albums which comprised her 'comeback' period of the 1970s. Unlike the earlier albums, this didn't feature any hit singles and consequently...
. That same year Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr is an American singer and humanitarian from El Paso, Texas. She has performed in a variety of music genres, including jazz, pop and country, but has enjoyed her greatest success singing in Spanish.-Career:After taking the stage name 'Vikki Carr', she signed with Liberty Records in 1962...
included the song on her The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face album which was produced by Snuff Garrett.
The song "It's Impossible" is sometimes identified as a being an alternate translation of "The Way of Love" but officially the two songs are distinct - although it is claimed that Somos Novios is a plagiarism of the original version of the song, 'J'ai le mal de toi'.